The 2021 Indiana Hoosiers football team represented Indiana University in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hoosiers played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Indiana, and competed as a member of the East Division of the Big Ten Conference. The team was led by fifth-year head coach Tom Allen.

Indiana finished the season with a 2–10 record, which would be their worst season since 2011, when they finished 1–11.

Spring Game The 2021 Spring Game was held in Bloomington, Indiana on April 10; however, it was a closed-practice, with the general public not in attendance.

Offseason

Coaching changes On December 12, 2020, the South Alabama Jaguars announced that they had hired Indiana defensive coordinator Kane Wommack as their new head coach; Wommack had previously served three years for the Hoosiers in a defensive coaching capacity, first as its linebackers coach in 2018 and then as its defensive coordinator for 2019 and 2020. On January 17, 2021, Indiana announced that they had hired Georgia Bulldogs defensive backs coach Charlton Warren as the Hoosiers' new defensive coordinator; Warren had served as the defensive back coach for Georgia for two years (2019–2020).

On January 13, 2021, the Michigan Wolverines announced that they had hired Indiana running backs' coach Mike Hart as their new running backs' coach; Hart had served four years as the Hoosiers' running backs coach (2017–2020) and also split time as the Assistant Head Coach. On February 8, 2021, Indiana announced that they had hired Kansas City Chiefs running backs' coach Deland McCullough as the Hoosiers' new running backs coach; McCullough had previously served as the Hoosiers' running backs' coach from 2011 to 2016.

Transfers

Outgoing

Notable departures from the 2020 squad included:

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes Harry Crider 57 Offensive lineman 6'4' 311 Senior Columbus, Indiana Declared for NFL Draft Jerome Johnson 98 Defensive lineman 6'3' 304 Senior (Redshirt) Bassfield, Mississippi Declared for NFL Draft Whop Philyor 1 Wide Receiver 5'11' 180 Senior Tampa, Florida Declared for NFL Draft Jovan Swann 51 Defensive lineman 6'2' 280 Graduate Transfer Greenwood, Indiana Declared for NFL Draft Haydon Whitehead 94 Punter 6'2' 219 Graduate student Melbourne, Australia Declared for NFL Draft Rashawn Williams 13 Wide receiver 6'2' 200 Freshman (Redshirt) Detroit, Michigan Transferred

Incoming

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes Prev. School Ryder Anderson 10 Defensive lineman 6'6" 266 Graduate Student Katy, Texas Graduate Transfer Ole Miss James Bomba 48 Tight end 6'6" 230 Graduate Student Bloomington, Indiana Sophomore Miami (OH) Zach Carpenter 58 Offensive lineman 6'5" 329 Sophomore (Redshirt) Cincinnati, Ohio Transfer Michigan Stephen Carr 5 Running back 6'0" 215 Senior (Redshirt) Gardena, California Transfer USC Jaren Handy 13 Defensive lineman 6'5" 255 Junior Hattiesburg, Mississippi Transfer Auburn Weston Kramer 99 Defensive lineman 6'1" 290 Graduate Student Naperville, Illinois Graduate Transfer Northern Illinois DJ Matthews 1 Wide receiver 5'10" 160 Senior (Redshirt) Indianapolis, Indiana Graduate transfer Florida State Deland McCullough II 25 Defensive Back 6'1" 195 Freshman (Redshirt) Bloomington, Indiana Transfer Miami (OH) Jonathan Haynes 17 Defensive Back 5'11" 205 Graduate Student Benoit, Mississippi Graduate transfer Ole Miss

2021 NFL draft Hoosiers who were picked in the 2021 NFL draft:

Round Pick Player Position Team 5 164 Jamar Johnson Safety Denver Broncos

Preseason

Recruits The Hoosiers signed a total of 14 recruits.

Preseason Big Ten poll Although the Big Ten Conference has not held an official preseason poll since 2010, Cleveland.com has polled sports journalists representing all member schools as a de facto preseason media poll since 2011. For the 2021 poll, Indiana was projected to finish third in the East Division.

Schedule The Hoosiers' 2021 schedule consisted of six home games and six away games. The Hoosiers played three non-conference games, against Idaho and Cincinnati at home and on the road against Western Kentucky. In conference, Indiana hosted Rutgers, Ohio State, Michigan State, and Minnesota. They traveled to Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Penn State, and Purdue.

Rankings

Game summaries At No. 18 Iowa

Statistics IU IOWA First downs 11 18 Total yards 233 303 Rushes/yards 31–77 36–158 Passing yards 156 145 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–33–3 13–28–0 Time of possession 32:04 27:56 Team Category Player StatisticsIndiana Passing Michael Penix Jr. 14/31, 156 yards, 3 INT Rushing Stephen Carr 19 carries, 57 yards Receiving Ty Fryfogle 5 receptions, 84 yardsIowa Passing Spencer Petras 13/27, 145 yards Rushing Tyler Goodson 19 carries, 99 yards, TD Receiving Sam LaPorta 5 receptions, 83 yards

vs Idaho

Statistics IDHO IU First downs 13 20 Total yards 261 338 Rushes/yards 22–65 50–179 Passing yards 196 159 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 23–39–0 13–20–0 Time of possession 26:36 33:24 Team Category Player StatisticsIdaho Passing Mike Beaudry 23/36, 196 yards, 2 TD Rushing Nick Romano 4 carries, 20 yards Receiving Hayden Hatten 10 receptions, 94 yards, 2 TDIndiana Passing Jack Tuttle 2/4, 91 yards, TD Rushing Stephen Carr 22 carries, 118 yards, TD Receiving A. J. Barner 1 reception, 76 yards, TD

vs No. 8 Cincinnati

Statistics CIN IU First downs 20 20 Total yards 328 376 Rushes/yards 36–118 37–152 Passing yards 210 224 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20–36–1 17–40–3 Time of possession 29:37 30:23 Team Category Player StatisticsCincinnati Passing Desmond Ridder 20/36, 210 yards, TD, INT Rushing Jerome Ford 20 carries, 66 yards, 2 TD Receiving Alec Pierce 5 receptions, 86 yards, TDIndiana Passing Michael Penix Jr. 17/40, 224 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT Rushing Stephen Carr 21 carries, 52 yards Receiving D. J. Matthews 5 receptions, 120 yards

At Western Kentucky

Statistics IU WKU First downs 35 24 Total yards 507 458 Rushes/yards 39–134 20–93 Passing yards 373 365 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 35–53–0 31–44–0 Time of possession 38:34 21:26 Team Category Player StatisticsIndiana Passing Michael Penix Jr. 35/53, 373 yards Rushing Stephen Carr 25 carries, 109 yards, 2 TD Receiving Peyton Hendershot 7 receptions, 100 yardsWestern Kentucky Passing Bailey Zappe 31/44, 365 yards, 3 TD Rushing Noah Whittington 6 carries, 41 yards Receiving Jerreth Sterns 7 receptions, 82 yards

At No. 4 Penn State

Statistics IU PSU First downs 12 20 Total yards 264 408 Rushes/yards 24–69 42–209 Passing yards 195 199 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–34–2 18–34–1 Time of possession 25:07 34:53 Team Category Player StatisticsIndiana Passing Michael Penix Jr. 10/22, 118 yards, INT Rushing Stephen Carr 15 carries, 50 yards Receiving Peyton Hendershot 5 receptions, 88 yardsPenn State Passing Sean Clifford 17/33, 178 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Keyvone Lee 8 carries, 74 yards Receiving Jahan Dotson 8 receptions, 84 yards, 2 TD

vs No. 10 Michigan State

Statistics MSU IU First downs 14 23 Total yards 241 322 Rushes/yards 35–100 36–134 Passing yards 141 188 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 15–27–2 28–52–2 Time of possession 26:30 33:30 Team Category Player StatisticsMichigan State Passing Payton Thorne 14/26, 126 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Kenneth Walker III 23 carries, 84 yards Receiving Jayden Reed 4 receptions, 70 yardsIndiana Passing Jack Tuttle 28/52, 188 yards, 2 INT Rushing Stephen Carr 19 carries, 53 yards, TD Receiving Ty Fryfogle 7 receptions, 65 yards

vs No. 5 Ohio State

Statistics OSU IU First downs 31 10 Total yards 539 128 Rushes/yards 32–187 37–48 Passing yards 352 80 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 28–37–0 8–17–0 Time of possession 32:01 27:59 Team Category Player StatisticsOhio State Passing C. J. Stroud 21/28, 266 yards, 4 TD Rushing TreVeyon Henderson 9 carries, 81 yards, 2 TD Receiving Jaxon Smith-Njigba 6 receptions, 99 yardsIndiana Passing Jack Tuttle 4/7, 41 yards, TD Rushing Trent Howland 5 carries, 17 yards Receiving Peyton Hendershot 5 receptions, 35 yards, TD

At Maryland

Statistics IU MARY First downs 17 30 Total yards 446 498 Rushes/yards 42–204 46–79 Passing yards 242 419 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–25–0 26–40–0 Time of possession 27:58 32:02 Team Category Player StatisticsIndiana Passing Donaven McCulley 14/25, 242 yards, 2 TD Rushing Stephen Carr 21 carries, 136 yards, 2 TD Receiving Peyton Hendershot 6 receptions, 106 yards, 2 TDMaryland Passing Taulia Tagovailoa 26/40, 419 yards, 2 TD Rushing Challen Faamatau 21 carries, 44 yards, 2 TD Receiving Carlos Carriere 8 receptions, 134 yards, 2 TD

At No. 7 Michigan

Statistics IU MICH First downs 11 19 Total yards 195 411 Rushes/yards 35–107 38–188 Passing yards 88 223 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 10–25–0 15–28–1 Time of possession 27:24 32:36 Team Category Player StatisticsIndiana Passing Donaven McCulley 10/24, 88 yards Rushing Donaven McCulley 14 carries, 37 yards Receiving Peyton Hendershot 3 receptions, 34 yardsMichigan Passing Cade McNamara 10/18, 168 yards, 2 TD Rushing Hassan Haskins 27 carries, 168 yards, TD Receiving Cornelius Johnson 5 receptions, 108 yards

vs Rutgers

Statistics RUTG IU First downs 18 18 Total yards 320 259 Rushes/yards 50–218 32–82 Passing yards 102 177 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 10–19–0 18–42–2 Time of possession 32:09 27:51 Team Category Player StatisticsRutgers Passing Noah Vedral 9/17, 97 yards Rushing Isiah Pacheco 21 carries, 79 yards, 2 TD Receiving Bo Melton 5 receptions, 50 yardsIndiana Passing Donaven McCulley 7/20, 98 yards Rushing Charlie Spegal 5 carries, 14 yards Receiving Ty Fryfogle 5 receptions, 51 yards

vs Minnesota

Statistics MINN IU First downs 20 12 Total yards 391 218 Rushes/yards 48–195 33–141 Passing yards 196 77 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–20–0 8–19–2 Time of possession 36:43 23:17 Team Category Player StatisticsMinnesota Passing Tanner Morgan 14/20, 196 yards, 2 TD Rushing Ky Thomas 26 carries, 105 yards, 2 TD Receiving Brevyn Spann-Ford 3 receptions, 67 yardsIndiana Passing Grant Gremel 5/12, 60 yards, TD Rushing Donaven McCulley 15 carries, 68 yards, TD Receiving A. J. Barner 3 receptions, 31 yards

At Purdue

Statistics IU PUR First downs 17 25 Total yards 204 447 Rushes/yards 32–57 28–167 Passing yards 147 280 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–30–0 27–33–0 Time of possession 30:46 29:14 Team Category Player StatisticsIndiana Passing Grant Gremel 18/30, 147 yards, INT Rushing Davion Ervin-Poindexter 8 carries, 47 yards Receiving Peyton Hendershot 6 receptions, 51 yardsPurdue Passing Aidan O'Connell 26/31, 278 yards, 4 TD Rushing Zander Horvath 15 carries, 49 yards, TD Receiving David Bell 6 receptions, 79 yards, TD

Roster

Awards and honors Award watch lists Listed in the order that they were released Walter Camp 2021 Preseason All-American - Second TeamMicah McFaddenLBSRJune 17, 2021Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year AwardTom AllenHead coachJuly 14, 2021Chuck Bednarik AwardMicah McFaddenLBSRJuly 19, 2021 Tiawan Mullen CB JR Maxwell Award Michael Penix Jr. QB JR (RS) Ty Fryfogle WR SRDavey O’Brien AwardMichael Penix Jr.QBJR (RS)July 20, 2021Doak Walker AwardStephen CarrRBSR (RS)July 21, 2021Fred Biletnikoff AwardTy FryfogleWRSRJuly 22, 2021John Mackey AwardPeyton HendershotTESR (RS)July 23, 2021Jim Thorpe AwardTiawan MullenCBJRJuly 26, 2021Butkus AwardMicah McFaddenLBSR Bronko Nagurski TrophyLBSR July 27, 2021 Tiawan MullenCBJROutland TrophyMatthew BedfordOLJRLou Groza AwardCharles CampbellKJR (RS)July 28, 2021Wuerffel TrophyMichael ZiembaOLSRJuly 29, 2021Paul Hornung AwardDJ Matthews Jr.WR / RSSR (RS)Walter Camp AwardMichael Penix Jr.QBJR (RS)July 30, 2021Manning AwardMichael Penix Jr.QBJR (RS)August 5, 2021Lombardi AwardMichah McFaddenLBSRAugust 6, 2021Earl Campbell Tyler Rose AwardCamron BuckleyWRSR (RS)Johnny Unitas Golden Arm AwardMichael Penix Jr.QBJR (RS)August 19, 2021

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